inspire, succeed newsletter 2010 - 2011 excel message...

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NEWBRIDGE SCHOOLC E N T R E O F E X C E L L E N C E

MESSAGE FROM THE HEADTEACHERDear Parents and Carers

Welcome to our third annual special edition newsletter which features activitiesand successes for the school year 2009-2010.

Newbridge School continues to go from strength to strength. This is clearly seenin our outstanding examination success in 2010, recognition of our school by thePrime Minister in April, our achievement of the ‘Active Mark’ (national qualitystandard) for PE in July, participation in the national final of ‘Young Enterprise’ atCardiff in July and our wonderful summer show ‘Grease’. These are just some ofthe many activities and successes of our pupils.

I am very proud of ourschool, our hardworkingand talented pupils andmy able, ski l led andcommitted staff.

Our motto, to ‘Inspire,Succeed, Excel’ in ourCentre of Excel lence,continues to pervade allthat we do in our happy,caring and successfulschool.

Mrs. L. J. PerryHeadteacher.

I N S P I R E , S U C C E E DE X C E L

S p e c i a l E d i t i o nN E W S L E T T E R 2 0 1 0 - 2 0 1 1

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2010 EXAMINATION RESULTS HIGHLIGHTS

• Message from the Headteacher

• 2010 Examination ResultsHighlights

Page 2• Examination Results Summer 2010

• Visit to 10 Downing Street

Pages 3 - 4• Excellence in Physical Education (P.E.)

• Excellence in Sport and P.E.

Pages 5• The Arts at Newbridge School:

- Performing Arts - The Musical‘Grease’

- Visiting Artists

Page 6 - 9• Year 7 Teambuilding

• Core Subject News and Successes:

- English Poets

- Successes In Mathematics

- Successmaker Maths

- Able and Talented Activities

Page 10• ‘Total Talent’ Event, July 2010

• International School Activities

- Danish Visitors

- International Week

Page 11• Community Activities

• 50 Years of Newbridge andAbercarn Rotary

Page 12• Healthy Schools Week 2010

• Young Enterprise

• Year 11 Prom 2010

MRS PERRY, HEADTEACHER, WITH SENIOR PUPILSAND SCHOOL EISTEDDFOD CUP

74% 5 A*-C achieved ………The school’s highest ever grades

300 A* / A grades achieved

LA average – 61% Newbridge School 13% above LA average

Wales average – 65% Newbridge School 9% above the national average

More on page 2 ….

YOUNG ENTERPRISEWe are extremely proud of our 2009-2010 Young Enterprise Team who got through to the NationalYoung Enterprise final at Cardiff in July, having won the Caerphilly County heat a month earlier.

The team, ‘Inferno’, designed and made beautiful jewellery from recycledmaterials. Their task was to promote and sell their goods at Young enterpriseevents and learn to run as a business, taking the roles of accountant, marketingdirector and company director amongst others.

All team members learned a lot about business and about their ability from thisactivity. ‘Inferno’ are grateful to Mr. Morgan in Design Technology who runs theYoung enterprise programme.

YEAR 11 PROM 2010

AND FINALLY....

Each year the school organises a ‘Prom’ night for year 11. This is when pupils celebrate the end oftheir examinations and all of their hard work. It is a last special occasion for our year 11 before theyleave us for the next stage of their lives.

Our Prom is held annually at the Maes Manor. Pupils arrive in style in a Prom limousine and dress up for theoccasion. We are always proud of our pupils on this very special occasion.

HEALTHY SCHOOL WEEK 2010 ……… HEALTHY SCHOOL WEEK 2010During our annual healthy school week, our pupils took part in a fun run (or walk!) on a glorious sunny day insupport of cancer charities.

We held an excellent sports day which was run this year as a ‘Commonwealth Games’ in recognition of theCommonwealth Games in Delhi, India in October. Competitors each represented a Commonwealth country.

Mr. Evans ran a challenging triathlon event and Years 7 and 8 took part in the district athletics competition.

The week gave pupils plenty of opportunity to take part in health promoting activity.

Pupils were also addressed on the dangers ofillegal substances. Senior pupils researchedthis topic and presented this seriousmessage to our younger year groups.

We are proud to be a healthy school.

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112 I N S P I R E , S U C C E E D , E X C E L

We are once again delighted with our examination results. Pupilshave achieved 74% 5 A* - C GCSE and equivalent grades in theBTEC qualifications of art, science and engineering.

300 grades have been achieved at A* and A, with pupils achieving 10or more A* / A grades

Results are outstanding in each subject. All subjects have achieved 100%pass rate.

Results have increased in the school year on year, clearly demonstratingthat all our pupils can succeed and excel with commitment andperseverance.

I commend pupils and staff on their hard work through 2009-2010. All ourpupils can go on to the next stage of their lives and into further educationwith pride and confidence – they are above the local and national average.This gives them the best possible stepping stone for the future – well doneand good luck to all our year 11 of 2009-2010. You have set a standardfor other year groups to follow.

EXAMINATION RESULTS SUMMER 2010

In March 2010 we were very pleased that Newbridge was recognised for excellence by the RightHonourable Don Touhig, who invited me to 10 Downing Street to be recognised by Prime Minister GordonBrown. Cllr. D.M. Gray, Chair of Governors, was in attendance with me. At the 10 Downing Street reception

myself and selected Headteachers were addressed by thePrime Minister and congratulated on the work andsuccesses of our schools.

This was a great honour and moment of pride for myselfand our school. The Right Honourable Don Touhig hadnoted on his visits to the school the responsible and matureway our pupils work and relate with each other, along withthe hard work and excellence of staff. He nominatedNewbridge for recognition for these reasons.

All our pupils have the pride of being able to say theyattend a school that has been recognised by the PrimeMinister.

VISIT TO 10 DOWNING STREET

I was equally pleased to have been invited to talk about our school at anational conference for women leaders in March of 2010. This tookplace at Craig Y Nos castle in Abercrave, an inspiring venue where womenleaders from across Wales were inspired to hear about the work andsuccesses of our school.

MRS. PERRY AND CLLR. D. M. GRAY OUTSIDE10 DOWNING STREET FOR THEIR SPECIAL VISIT TO

MEET THE PRIME MINISTER

GRAIG Y NOS CASTLE, ABERCRAVE

50 YEARS OF NEWBRIDGE AND ABERCARN ROTARYThe Newbridge and Abercarn Rotary Club celebrated its 50th anniversary last October.

In support of this Newbridge School held a specialassembly recognising their achievements. We took part inthe ceremony to unveil their plaque, placed at the leisurecentre entrance.

The Rotary Club is a strong supporter of NewbridgeSchool and its pupils, running a number of activities forthe school. In return we were very pleased to recognisetheir work and support their special charity, the ‘End Polio’campaign, through fundraising activities in the spring term.

Congratulations to the Newbridge and Abercarn Rotary Club on 50 years of service to the community.

Children In Need - £606

Health Week Fun Run - £617for Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice

Leah Kate Howells, raised £25 for‘Help the Heroes’ through her own personal efforts.

We passionately believe in fundraising for important charities and causes.

Throughout 2009-2010, year groups, classes and individual pupils have taken part in or haveorganised fundraising activities, with fantastic results.

The staff of the school give their time willingly to fundraising activities. The school also recognises thesupport of parents and carers for all our fundraising activities.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

End Polio Campaign -Supporting Rotary International in ridding theworld of polio – fundraising to provide 50pvaccinations for babies and children: £1,700raised. Year 7 raised £1,000 through asponsored skipathon organised by Mrs. Turner,Head of Year 7. £100 raised by year 9 throughorganising a breaktime cake stall.

Year 7 Readathon - £395for CLIC Sargent and Roald Dahl Foundation(both cancer charities for children)

Natasha Cartwright raised £45 for thestroke unit at Neville Hall Hospital

Year 10 fundraisingfor the 2010 Haiti earthquake disaster, organisedby Mrs. Soos, Head of Year 10 - £300 raised

£140 was raised byMrs. Hayward and herYear 11 form for ‘PLAN’ to sponsor a child’seducation in Africa.

Mrs. Perry

OUR HIGHEST ACHIEVING ‘END POLIO’ FUNDRAISER

END POLIO FUNDRAISERS WITH MRS. PERRY, ROTARYCLUB MEMBERS, THE MAYOR AND SENIOR PREFECTS



Physical Education (PE) is very popular and successful at NewbridgeSchool.

In recognition of our sporting excellence, the school has achieved the nationalActive Mark award – Active Marc Cymru – awarded by the Sports Council for Wales.

Schools are awarded this when they can demonstrate acommitment to developing high quality PE and School Sport. TheNewbridge School P.E. department – Mrs. Llewellyn, Mr. Bool, MissBishop and Mr. Evans - have demonstrated this.

Well done to the PE department and all our highly talented pupils.Each of you has contributed to our achievement of this nationalaward through your commitment to our high quality PE and schoolsport opportunities.

EXCELLENCE IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION (P.E.)

EXCELLENCE IN SPORT AND P.E.

NEWBRIDGE ACHIEVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR PE: JULY 2010THE ACTIVE MARK AWARD – “ACTIVE MARC CYMRU”

SPORTS PRIZE EVENING 2010 ……… SPORTS PRIZE WINNERS

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

DANISH VISITORS

We encourage our pupils to have an international view of life so that they realise the opportunitiesthey have to work, live in and have contacts with the world in general.

In December 2010, our pupils had the opportunity tomeet young people from a school in Denmark when wehosted a party of Danish visitors, organised by MissJenkins. Many of these pupils have kept in touch witheach other as penfriends.

INTERNATIONAL WEEKWe held an International Week inJune when pupils worked ingroups to research and producework about the Commonwealth.

Pupils worked in mixed age groupsand planned and developed theirown projects around this theme.

Some groups focused on foodacross the Commonwealth, somethe arts, others took a close look atthe Commonwealth Games andhow it operates whilst othersresearched a Commonwealthcountry.

The work all groups produced wasoutstanding. Pupi ls had theopportunity to be creative and

imaginative. They all managed thissuperbly.

We also had three special visitorsinto school. All of them are localpeople who live International lives insome way. The speakers wereinspirational. They included Mr.Malcolm Nicholson from theInternational Baccalaureate whotalked to pupils about working as ateacher abroad, Susie Drane, WelshInternational Netball player and TimHazell, Paralympic Coach for theBritish archery team.

T im has chi ldren at NewbridgeSchool. Mrs. Hazell, who works atour school and is herself a high levelWelsh archer, demonstrated how to

use a modern archery bow.

‘TOTAL TALENT’ EVENT, JULY 201014 of our most able pupils from Years 7, 8 and 9 tookpart in a ‘Total Talent’ event on July 14th in Cardiff. Theycompeted against pupils from other schools, with anemphasis on using ‘brain power’ and thinking skills towork through a number of challenges.

Pupils attempted a series of mental and physicalchallenges, organised like a ‘Crystal Maze’ competition.

They took part in a marketing competition to design thepackaging and marketing for a new soft drink.

The ‘drainpipe’ challenge involved them in workingtogether to solve how to get a tennis ball out of adrainpipe with holes in, using water. (The pupils gotdrenched!) Finally, was the ‘Gym It To Win It’ challenge,

an obstaclecourse whichneeded thewhole teamworking togetherto get throughthe obstacles.

The Year 9 teamfinished third in the Year 9 competition, the whole teamwon the obstacle course, 3 of the 7 carousel tasks andthe drainpipe challenge!

Overall the team had fun, met other pupils and usedtheir brains over a fantastic day – well done to teamNewbridge!

We celebrate the success of our sports prize winners every year.

2010 highlights:-

International success

Imogen Williams – Gymnastics

Ben Wellington – Cricket

Jack Dixon – Rugby

Shaunagh Ryan – Tae Kwon Do

Bethan Eke – Swimming

Nathan Eke – Swimming

Jonathan Eke – Swimming

High Achievers

Elliot Dee – Newport Gwent DragonsTom Shipp – Newport Gwent DragonsSam Gurner – S.E. Wales Skiing championMatthew Eke – S.E. Wales Swim SquadGeorgia Brookes – S.E. Wales Swim SquadFrancesca Hyde – S.E. Wales Swim Squad

Team of the Year : Year 8 Boys’ Athletics Team

The team represented S.E. Wales at the Welsh Schools’ Athletics team championships in Brecon in Julyand achieved a very commendable 3rd place (3rd Year 8 team in Wales).

Jake Watkins, Matthew Rogers, Taylor Smith, James Thompson, Dominic Norman, Owen Evans,Ben Wellington, Evan Styles, Alex Pope.

Sports Woman of the Year : Francesca Hyde

Sports Man of the Year : Scott Jones

ELLIE DANIELS’ STUNNING WORK

COMPLETED INTERNATIONAL WEEK WORK



EXCELLENCE IN SPORT AND P.E.P.E. / DANCE DAYS FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS

PERSONAL EXCELLENCE IN SPORT, GYMNASTICS AND DANCEMany of our pupils strive for excellence in sport and fitness activities in their own time, whilst still excelling intheir schoolwork. We are proud of all of them, like these pupils…..

Jordan Storeywho is British BallroomDancing Champion

Laura Ryan and Katie Crosswho are British AcroGymnastics champions

Laura Edwardswho is National TableTennis champion

Mathematics has also achievedits highest ever results this year,thanks to the hard work andcommitment of the mathematicsteam. The results are:

100% pass rate 81% 5 A*-C

Alongside mathematics lessons,the department organisesadditional activities to encouragepupils to understand howmathematics is used in the world ofwork. This helps our pupils to see

the importance of mathematics fortheir lives and their future.

This year, year 9 pupi ls haveworked with an education teamfrom the RAF, understanding howmathematics is used by the RAF inits daily activities and operations.

Year 8 pupils have worked with apuzzle company who showed themhow to solve mathematicalproblems and importantly, how tobuild their confidence in workingout these problems.

SUCCESSES IN MATHEMATICS

Year 9 pupils have benefitted over the last year from extra mathematics learning using the ‘SuccessmakerMathematics’ computer programme.

The school has invested £24,000 in this very specialist programme.By working individually using Successmaker, pupils have focused onan area where they need to develop their mathematical skills further.

All pupils taking part have improved their mathematics skills. Somehave improved by 100%. All pupils have said how helpful they havefound the programme.

We have celebrated these successes with parents and carers andwe will be giving more pupils the opportunity to develop theirmathematics skills using this programme over the next year.

SUCCESSMAKER MATHSTAKING THE PLUNGE AND LEARNING TO SWIM

We are proud of over 30 of our pupils who have taken part in the Welsh Assembly Government’sprogramme of free swimming lessons and improved their swimming skills.

All pupils completed their programme of lessons with a sponsored swim where they put their skills to thetest.

Two of the swimmers, Alex Richards and WilliamParker, attended the Welsh Assembly’s launch offree swimming at the leisure centre on 8th June,launched by Alun Ffred Jones, Minister ofHeritage and Cllr. Lyndsey Whittle, leader of thecouncil. Alex and William spoke about theirimprovements in swimming on television that day.

Well done to all these pupils.

The swimming sessions were organised and runby Miss Anna Davies, our outstanding5 x 60 officer. ABLE AND TALENTED ACTIVITIES

A number of our pupils visited LLandridnod Wells in April to take part in the NACE annual nationalconference for teachers.

NACE (National Association for Able Children in Education)works to ensure the most able and talented learnersaround the country have the very best education.Newbridge School was invited by the director of NACEJohanna Raffan to showcase some of our work with ableand talented pupils, as an example of excellent practice.

Along side Mrs. Weekes who organised this project, pupilspresented their own research about the learning of ableand talented pupils at Newbridge to teachers acrossWales. Teachers were able to ask our pupils questionsand all were very impressed with the quality of theirpresentation.

We are very proud to have pupils represent our school at the NACE national conference.

Our P.E. department works closely with our primary schools.Pupils are invited in years 5 and 6 to take part in PE activitiesin our sports centre. In summer 2010 year 5 took part in afantastic indoor athletics day organised by Mr. Bool and year 6attended a dance day organised by Mrs. Llewellyn. Pupilsworked enthusiastically on both days and learned to create ateam dance on the dance day, with some stunning results!

Year 5 and 6 were supported by Newbridge School pupils onboth days. These pupils have trained to be sports leaders andthey do a magnificent job.

WILLIAM AND ALEX WITH OUR5 X 60 OFFICER, ANNA DAVIES

GERAINT THOMAS AND LLOYD JONES AWARDEDFOR 100% PROGRESS BY MRS. PERRY



THE ARTS AT NEWBRIDGE SCHOOLAll aspects of the arts are outstanding at Newbridge School, with many activities organised todevelop the talents of our pupils.

The whole community enjoyed our magnificent production of the show ‘Grease’ in the summer term, withfour sell out performances and almost two hundred pupils involved.

Year Ten pupils took the lead roles and brought the main characters andtheir songs to life – Sandie, Danny, Rizzo, Kenickie and more. The finale,involving all the cast singing the famous ‘Always Stay Together’ was atriumph of enthusiasm and energy whilst the car ‘Greased Lightning’designed by our props creator Mr. Longden will become a piece ofNewbridge School legend!

PERFORMING ARTS – THE MUSICAL ‘GREASE’Everything would be fair,

You wouldn't suffer a nightmare,The Earth would go green

And no one would be mean,There would never be any crime

And school would start at a later time,I'd have a crazy day,

Then a lazy day,Robots would do your chores

And you could put the world on pause,I may cancel school,

But that'd make me a fool,If I ruled the world.

Alex Catley

NEWBRIDGE SCHOOL

If I ruled the worldI would change all the rules

I would be kingAnd be able to do anythingI would stop global warmingPut an end to all the moaning

I'd make it crime-freeHave everything as beautiful as the

Mediterranean SeaEveryone would be having fun

There would be a gorgeous, glowing sunI would make people fitterI would prevent all litter

The ground would shine like pearlsThat’s what would happen if I ruled the world!

Daniel Edmunds

NEWBRIDGE SCHOOL

If the world was all mine,I would make it out of sunshine,Lying on the beach under palms,

From city life chaos to Mediterranean calm,Money would grow on trees

And people would have more opportunitiesThe clouds would be candyfloss

The sky would light up like sparkly lipglossIf I ruled the world, everything would be free

That life would definitely suit me!

Katie – Anne Jones

IF I RULED THE WORLD

If I ruled the worldThe rivers would be made of chocolate

The sky would be greenAnd everyone would talk about

Me! Me! Me!

The grass would be sugarAnd the geese lay golden eggsEvery day would be a holiday

And a theme park at every bend.

Money would grow on treesAnd then you’d all see

I’m the ruler of the worldAnd you’re never going to lose me!

Stacie Annetts


VISITING ARTISTSEach year the art department invites in a working, nationally recognised artist to teach examinationpupils specific art skills.

For the past two years, pupils have benefitted from working with an animal artist who works in the mediumof clay and creates stunning animal sculptures.

Pupils learn the skills to create animal sculptures for themselves and they produce a completed sculpturein two days. The results are truly magnificent.

GORILLA BY KAYSHA WILSON ARTIST DEMONSTRATING LIZARD BY DANIEL SMITH



Following our success last year in having our ownschool book published, many of our young writerswere again successful this year in having poetrypublished in a national poetry book, called

‘If I Ruled The World.’

Their poems are all interesting, some humorous,others thought provoking. All are well written andshow talent. Here are some examples:

The English department has achieved its highest ever results this year in language and literature.We are very proud of this. The figures are:

• 73% 5 A* - C in English language

• 85% A* - C in English literature

• 100% A*-G in English language and literature

I would stop all homework.And bullies too.

I would arrange more school trips,For all of you.

I would help the world,By saving the environment,

Stop global warmingAnd use less energy too.

I would stop racism,Stop bullying

And child abuse too.I would also try to find a cure to all

illnesses!So all in all, I want to make the world

A better place for me and you!

Matthew Rogers


There would be no problems,Nothing would go wrong,Everyone would be happy,Everything would be free,There would always be fun,No one would be homeless,No one would be hungry,

Chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner,Everyone would have whatever they asked

for,Protect the environment,

Never be ill,If I ruled the world,

The world would be a better place!

Jake Murphy


Anything I want will come trueYou would be born with all you would

learn from schoolI would make animals talkI'd say goodbye to Mondays

I would make money fall from the skyevery day

Have a holiday the whole month of MayI mean hey! It'd be great!

There would be no one you would hateThat is what would happen

If I ruled the world!

Tyler Davies - Welsh


I would feed the hungry,Stop child abuse,

Stop bullying,Every day would be Christmas Day!

Stop the war,Have a mansion,

Have loads of money,Help the sick,Stop racism,

Give houses to the homeless,Keep fit and healthy,Support charities,

Never look back, always look forward!These are all the things I would do

If I ruled the world!

Laura Pople


lf I ruled the worldSaturdays would be lazy days

If I ruled the worldEveryone would be rich

If I ruled the worldPeace would be assured

If I ruled the worldThe law would be more solid

If I ruled the worldEveryone would be given a chance

If I ruled the worldWow! What if I ruled the world?

Rowan Coomber


YEAR 7 TEAMBUILDING

Early in the school year, Year 7had the opportunity to get toknow each other throughteambuiding activities at theBlack Mountain Activity Centre,organised by Mrs. Turner, Headof Year 7.

Alongside having lots of fun, pupilsdevelop new skills and confidence.They are inspired to realise whatthey can achieve, with courageand perseverance. This gives themthe right approach to startingNewbridge School.

ENGLISH POETSCORE SUBJECT NEWS AND SUCCESSES


inspire, succeed newsletter 2010 - 2011 excel message...

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